Consumer Traveler Today: April 20

Consumer Traveler Today: In airfares, most of all we need transparency and simplicity
 
 
In airfares, most of all we need transparency and simplicity
What we’re reading: SWA nixes codeshare with Westjet, Sea-Tac’s recycling, hotel rewards guests for going green
Baby bald eagle cam, in the nest, real time, 2010
What we’re watching: Nude vacations, time in Tuscany, Vermont’s black fly festival
A tropical paradise where beer is a buck
E.U. works on Europe-wide volcanic ash policy, until now, decisions were country-by-country
Beyond airlines – winners and losers with volcanic ash
In airfares, most of all we need transparency and simplicity
Posted: 20 Apr 2010 03:10 AM PDT
The brouhaha over Spirit Airlines’ recent institution of a $45 fee per carry-on, plus the return of Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s proposal to charge for the use of in-flight lavatories, brings home the point anew: When it comes to airline fees, passengers don’t need micro-management, but rather transparency and simplification.
       

What we’re reading: SWA nixes codeshare with Westjet, Sea-Tac’s recycling, hotel rewards guests for going green
Posted: 20 Apr 2010 03:00 AM PDT
SWA terminates codeshare with Westjet, Sea-Tac collects airplane recyclables, Denmark hotel rewards guests for going green
       

Baby bald eagle cam, in the nest, real time, 2010
Posted: 19 Apr 2010 06:00 PM PDT
British Columbia, Canada, has long been in the forefront of preservation of bald eagles. Right now (April/May/June 2010) an amazing webcam is capturing the unfolding progress of baby eaglets as they grow are nurtured and raised.
       

What we’re watching: Nude vacations, time in Tuscany, Vermont’s black fly festival
Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:30 AM PDT
Videos about nude vacations, the visual pleasures of Tuscany and Vermont's, would you believe, black fly festival. Guess you have to celebrate something when everyone hates to go outdoors. Or, should I say nudists watch out.
       

A tropical paradise where beer is a buck
Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:25 AM PDT
Here's Bocas del Toro, a low-keyed island-life discovery off the coast of Panama where the U.S. dollar is strong, palm trees sway, the surfs up and beers are a buck.
       

E.U. works on Europe-wide volcanic ash policy, until now, decisions were country-by-country
Posted: 19 Apr 2010 07:30 AM PDT
Until today, the European decisions forced because of the volcanic ash cloud that has put an end to air traffic over the continent have been on a country-by-country basis. Now that the ash has closed most of Europe's airspace, the E.U. is debating how to coordinate an emergency European-wide response.
       

Beyond airlines – winners and losers with volcanic ash
Posted: 19 Apr 2010 06:30 AM PDT
At this point, even armchair travelers are familiar with Europe's volcanic ash saga and the fact that the cloud has basically grounded all flights in the European airspace. News stories on the situation also talk about how much money — perhaps $200 million dollars a day — airlines are losing. But, airlines aren't the only part of the travel industry, and even in the airline community, there are some winners and losers. Here's an admittedly unofficial scorecard.